Afghanistan promises adequate security for Indians

KABUL: Afghanistan has taken adequate measures to ensure security of Indians working in that country and promised to do more in view of New Delhi's concern on their safety.

This was conveyed to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee by Afghanistan leaders during his two-day visit which concluded on Wednesday.

The assurance was given when Mukherjee raised the issue of the safety of thousands of Indians due to persisting threats from Taliban.

Taliban militia have abducted and killed two Indians during the last one year and demanded that all reconstruction projects being pursued by India in the war-ravaged country be wound up.

Thousands of Indians are working in reconstruction projects in Afghanistan launched after toppling of Taliban regime in 2002 and several of them have received threats from terrorists.

New Delhi's concerns are heightened due to resurgence of Taliban over the last few months.

Noting that Afghanistan is also worried over Taliban's re-emergence, Mukherjee said that there was need to curb activities of the militia which is operating from border areas.

He underlined that Taliban is the main hindrance in the path of reconstruction and development of war-torn country and implied that international forces, including NATO, needed to do more to crush the fundamentalist militia.